Mzava sways Israeli club

It certainly does not get better than this. Malawi national football team (Flames) blossoming defender Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava has made an immediate impression at Israeli giants Hapoel Tel Aviv.

The club wants to do a deal with his South African club, Bloemfontein Celtic, as quickly as possible.

Initially, Mzava was set to undergo trials for 10 days, but swayed the Middle East outfit in only his first training session last week.

Both Mzava and his South African agent Walter Mokoena confirmed the development on Tuesday.

“After the first training session, coach Nitzan Shiraz said I was the type of player he was looking for and that he would recommend to management to get me on board right away,” said Mzava from Israeli’s capital Tel Aviv.

However, Mzava, who is tipped as a natural successor to Flames on-field leader Peter Mponda, said he is yet to enter into personal negotiations with the club.

Mokoena confirmed with KickOff.com that his client has made the grade.

“After only one training session, Limbikani has impressed Hapoel Tel Aviv. Now, they want to sign him subject to the two clubs agreeing a transfer fee. Sometime this week a deal could be thrashed out,” Mokoena is reported as saying.

“I spoke to the boy and he is very comfortable there. I also spoke to Khumbulani Konco [the Celtic CEO]. He says the management meets tomorrow [Wednesday] and they will come up with a price. The club wants to buy the boy outright,” he said.

The 18-year-old has not even played a single match for Celtic since signing for them seven months ago from Escom United.

“The player has not even played one match for Celtic, but I know that Celtic will be reasonable. They could make three or four times what they bought him for a few months ago,” Mokoena told KickOff.com.

Konco confirmed in a brief telephone interview from Bloemfontein that Mzava had made it.

“We have received official communication from the club, but as I said, we are yet to agree on the transfer fee. Check with me again probably on Thursday or thereabouts,” he said.

If he signs, Mzava will become a teammate of South Africa’s defender Bevan Fransman at the Israeli club.

His former local club, Escom United, is expected to get a 15 percent cut from his prospective transfer fee as per the sale agreement with Celtic that was made through local agent Ben Chiwaya.

Mzava moved to Celtic at a whopping R350 000 [then about K8 million].

The Israeli club is based in Tel Aviv. Apart from frequent participation in the Uefa Champions League, Hapoel currently compete in the Israeli Premier League and play their home matches at Bloomfield Stadium.

Efforts to get confirmation about Mzava’s alleged impressive performance from Hapoel Tel Aviv officials proved futile as Konco—who promised to give contacts from a letter he claimed to have received from the club—failed to do so until we went to press.

Hapoel Tel Aviv sacked coach Dror Kashtan last Monday after a poor run of results and some uninspiring performances that have left them nine points behind surprise league leaders Kiryat Shmona.

Kashtan, 67, was a surprise last-minute choice to coach Hapoel at the start of the season, but media reports said he fell out with club owner Tabib.

FAST FACTS

—Mzava is the fifth born in a family of five boys and two girls.

—Comes from Bangwe, Blantyre.

—Was named 2008 TNM Super League Defender of the Season.

—Played for BCA Stars, Bangwe Madrid, Azam Tigers and Escom United.

—He captained Escom United FC that won the 2009/10 TNM Super League Championship, the U-20 national team that won gold at Zone VI Games and the 2009 U-17 national team for Africa and World Youth Championship.